Railway-velocipede



(No Model.) 4 Sheds-Sheet 1. C. N. TEETOR. RAILWAY VELOGIPEDE.

Patented Feb. 1, 1898.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Shet 2. r

0. N. TEETOR.

. RAILWAY VELOGIPEDE.

No. 598,450. Patented Feb. 1', 1898.

m: Ncnms vzrzns co PHOTDJJTHO" WASHINGTON u r (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

' 0. N. TEETOR.

RAILWAY VELOGIPEDE.

No. 598,450. Patented Feb. 1, 1898.

...2:VIII/1114 lg/Ill/III/1111111 m: NORRIS PETERS c0. PHOTOJJTHO. wAsnmc'ron. n. c.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 0. N. TEETOR.

RAILWAY VELOOIPEDEQ No. 598,450. Patented Feb. 1, 1898.

CHARLES N. TEETOR, OF HAGERSTOWN, INDIANA.

RAlLWA Y-VELOCIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 598,450, dated February 1, 1898. Applioationfiled March 3, 1897. Serial No. 625,868. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES N. TEETOR, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Hagerstown, in the county of Wayne and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Velocipedes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My present invention relates to a railwayvelocipede which I prefer to designate as a railway-quadricycle having four wheels adapted to the rails of a railway-track, one example of which is illustrated in prior United States Letters Patent granted to me the 20th day of October, 1896, and numbered 569,683.

In vehicles of the kind disclosed in my aforesaid Letters Patent the axles form a part of the framework, and they carry near their ends small fittings, which are attached directly to bearing-cases that contain the ball-bearings and to which fittings parts of the framework and the braces are attached, thus leaving the axles exposed between said fittings. When the machine carries a rider, and weightis thus imposed upon the diverging bars and braces of the framework, the outward strain on the braces and frame-bars is equal to or greater than the weight applied vertically. Hence the parts are exposed or subject to double the friction. The same objection applies to the front arched axle of the machine shown in my patent, to which reference has been made, because the riders weight when imposed on said front axle caused it to sag in the middle, which resulted in the bearings being thrown out of alinement, thus causing the bearings to bind and. the axle to run hard therein. The same result is attained should any of the braces become bent.

Among other things the object of this invention is to overcome the objections herein noted by the provision of means which preserves the alinement of the bearings and provides for the attachment of the framework and the braces in a stable manner, the axles bein g entirely independent of and separate from the framework to render them removable at will.

A further object of my invention is to pro vide a novel construction whereby thepower appliances may be conveniently attached to or coupled with the rear driving-axle in a .mannerto avoid weakening the structure;

and a further object is to provide a simple and strong framework in which the parts are so disposed as to brace and strengthen the frame longitudinally, transversely, and diagonally against undue strain and injury.

With these ends in view my invention consists, first, of a framework consisting of axle tubes or sleeves arranged parallel to each other at the front and rear of the machine and connected together by longitudinal bars or reaches, said tubes or sleeves forming integral parts of said frame, combined with axles fitted in said tubes or sleeves and removable therefrom at will; also, in the employment of ball-bearings fitted in said sleeves or tubes and axles passing throughthe sleeves and operatively engaging with the ball-bearings to be removable therefrom at will.

My invention further consists in a novel construction of the sleeve-like bearing or tube for the rear driven axle in a manner to accommodate the power-wheel of the driving mechanism, which is usually a pair of sprocket-wheels and a connecting-chain in vehicles such as railway-velocipedes. In the preferred embodiment of the support for the rear axle the tube or sleeve is divided into sections, the adjacent ends of which are joined together by an enlarged coupling and easing which is rigidly united to said adjacent ends of the tube or sleeve sections, so as to form a part of the same. To one of these sections of the tube or sleeve is fastened in any suitable way a ball-bearing case, which contains a ball-bearing for the axle to run in at the middle of the machine, thus forming three ball-bearings for the rear axle, two of which are located at the ends of the tube or sleeve and one bearing at or near the middle thereof. WVithin the coupling or casing box is arranged the driven wheel of the power mechanism, which wheel may be fastened to the-axle in any suitable way, and said coupling or casing has an opening or slot for the passage of the sprocket-chain or its equivalent that serves as the means for transmitting the power to the rear axle for the propulsion of the vehicle. Said coupling or casing on the rear axle is also provided with means for the attachment of the bars or braces of the framework.

The framework of my improved vehicle is constructed at the rear part thereof with diagonal brace-bars which run from the seatpost to the fittings at the ends of the axle tube or sleeve and with a vertically and rearwardly inclined brace between the seat-post and the central sleeve coupling or casing, thus preventing the vehicle from sagging at the rear,owing to the triangular form of the braces and to the employment of the middle coupling or casing, which prevents the ends of the sleeve or tube from spreading; and the invention further consists in the novel combination of devices and in the construction and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

To enable others to understand my invention, I have illustrated the preferred embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a railwayquadricycle constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan View thereof. Fig. 3 is an elevation looking at the rear of the machine. Fig. 4 is a side elevation. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional elevation, the section being taken longitudinally through the bearings and sleeve or tube for the front axle. Fig. 6 is a detail elevation of one of the fittings for use in connection with the sleeve or tube for either the front or rear axle. Fig. 6 is a detail view, in side elevation, of another of the fittings, the same being used in connection with three of the reachbars, which are to be attached to the rear axle. Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation of the divided tube or sleeve with the bearings thereof for the rear axle, also showinga part of the framework of the vehicle. Figs. 8 and 9 are a perspective view and a plan view, respectively, of the double car or velocipede.

Like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

I have shown my invention embodied in a railway-quadricycle having a framework of simple novel construction, in which-- 1 is the seat-post, having the crank-hanger 2 at its lower end.

3 is the head, which carries the support 4 for the adjustable front arch 5.

6 is the lower bar between the head 3 and the crank-hanger 2.

7 is the upper bar between the head 3 and the seat-post 1, and 8 is the vertically and rearwardly inclined bar between the seat-post and the center of the sleeve or tube for the rear axle.

The braces for the framework will be specifically described presently.

The arch 5 for the front axle 10 is similar in form to the arch shown in my prior patent,

more conveniently or stored within a small space. Said front arch 5 is attached at its ends between the ears 11 of forged fittings 12 13, which are united to the ends of thesleeve or tube 14, through which extends the front axle 10. This tube or sleeve 14 is continuous and unbroken throughout its length, and being attached through the fittings and arch to the framework it forms a part of said framework, thus making the axle 1O independent of the frame. The fittings 12 13 are united to the sleeve 14 by brazing the parts together, and to the extremities of said sleeve or tube are united the bearing-cases 15, shaped to receive the ball-bearings 16, which are confined in place against said cases 15 by the adjusting-cones 17, the latter being fitted on the axle 10 and held in place by-the nuts 18, which are secured on the axle within the spindles 10 thereof. 1 preferably make the arch 5 of tubing, which is bent to the proper form, and in the ends of this tube-like arch are secured the cap-pieces 19, adapted to fit between the ears 11 on the fittings 12 13 and to be held in place therein by through-bolts 20, although these details may be varied as desired. The fittings 12 13 have the lugs 11 extending upwardly in inclined directions for the proper attachment thereto of the end pieces 19 on the arch 5, and said fittings are further provided with 'rearwardly-projecting horizontal lugs 21, to which are fastened the sectional jointed longitudinal braces 22 23, which extend along the sides of the machine within the wheels and back to the similar fittings on the tube or sleeve for the rear axle, said j ointed braces 22 23 being pivotally attached to the sleeves or tubes of the rear axles and provided with break-joints, as in my former patented machine, in order when the braces are adjusted in one position to throw the arch 5, front axle, and front wheels toward the rear axle to reduce the wheel-base of the machine and when the braces 22 23 are straightened out to'hold the front and rear axles in proper parallel relation to each other. The axle 10 passes through the sleeve or tube 14, and on its end spindles are the wheels 10, of any preferred construction.

The rear axle 25 is similar in construction, and it is supported in a similar way to the front axle 10; but the support for the rear axle is constructed to enable the driving mechanism to apply power centrally to the rear wheel for the proper propulsion of the ma chine.

As shown in the drawings,the driving mechanism for my quadricycle consists of a pedalshaft 26, journaled in a bearing of the crank hanger, a driving-wheel 27, fastened to said pedal-shaft, a driven wheel 28, fastened by a set-screw 28 to the central part of the rear axle 25, and an endless sprocket-chain 29,

ploy an equivalent mechanism for the propulsion of the vehicle.

The rear axle issupported in a sleeve or-tube 3O but said sleeve for the rear axle is not in a continuous piece of uniform diameter like the tube 14, because said tube 30 must be made to accommodate the driven wheel 28 of the propelling mechanism. I therefore divide the tube 30iuto two parts or sections 30' 30" and unite them at their adjacent ends by a coupling-casing 31, the size of which is sufficient to contain the driven Wheel 28 and the chain 29. This coupling 31 is in the form of a cylindrical shell, with openings 32 at the bottom and top thereof, as

shown by Fig. 7, and with axial nipples 33, which are solidly brazed to the adjacent ends of the tube or sleeve sections 30 30", whereby the coupling forms a part of the sleeve or tube for the rear axle 25. r The openings 32 in the coupling provide for the free passage of the sprocket-chain; but said coupling partially houses the sprocket-wheel and the axle to serve in a measure as a dust-excluding medium for said parts. Near the ends of this sectional sleeve or tube are fastened the end fittings 35 36, provided with horizontal lugs 37 for the attachment of the side braces 22 23, that extend to the tube or sleeve 14 of the front axle 10. These end fittings are further provided with other lugs 38 39,'extending at difierent'angles therefrom, and to the lugs 38 of said fittings are attached the verticallyinclined braces 40, while to the lugs 39 are attached the converging horizontal braces 41. The braces 40 extend from the end fittings 35 36 in an upward and forward direction to converge toward the central line of the ma chine, where they are attached to the seatpost 1, and the braces 41 extend on converging lines and nearly in horizontal planes to the frontarch 5, to which arch they are suitably attached.

To the extremities of the sectional tube or sleeve 30 for the rear axle are united the bearing-cases 43 44, which are shaped, to receive the bearing-balls 45, that are confined Within said cases by the adj listing-cones 46,said cones being held up to the cases by means of the nuts 47, screwed on the rear axle, within the spindles 25 thereof. The axle carries the wheels 25, of any preferred form, and it extends through the sections 30' 30" of the tube and the coupling 31, as shown. I also provide a central ball-bearing for theaxle, the bearing-case 48 of which central bearing is attached to the inner end ofone of the tubesections 30 and is shaped to receive the balls 49, held in place by the cone 50, which abuts against the hub of the driven sprocket 28, which is clamped by the set-screw 28 to the middle portion of the axle. It will be noted a seat-post.

that either axle may be readily withdrawn from its tube by simply unscrewing the nuts of the ball-bearings and, slipping the axle endwise out of the tube or sleeve, it being necessary in the case of the rear axle to release I the screw 28, which holds the sprocket-wheel 28 fast on said axle.

The coupling or casing 31 is provided with a lug 52, to which is attached the bar 8, the upper end of which is fastened to the seat post at practically the same point as the braces 40. The bar or reach 54 is attached at its rear end to the coupling or casing 31 in a suit= able way, and the front end of the reach-bar is fastened to or united with the'crank-hanger of the machine.

In my improved construction of the frame work it is not possible for the vehicle to sag at its central or median line, owing to the triangular disposition of the braces 40 and to the employment of the tube 30 in connection with the rear bar 8, which prevents the parts from spreading.

The coupling 31 prevents any give lengthwise in the tube or sleeve 30, and it not only accommodates the driving mechanism, but also provides for the reception of a central bearing for the axle 25 and furnishes a support for the attachment of a foot-step 55, by which the rider may mount or dismount.

\Vhen weight is applied on the handle-bar 56, which is fastened in the head 3, the outward strain is thrown by the arch against the axle sleeve or tube 14, and whatever sag is thereby occasioned is taken up by the pivotal connection of the. fittings 12 and 13 with the side braces 22 23.

While I have shown and described my improvements in connection with a railwayquadricycle, I would have it understood that I do not strictly confine myself to the employment of such devices in a vehicle of the class described. The construction of the tube or sleeve for the rear axle is susceptible of use advantageously in other vehicles,particularly in that class known as motor road vehicles, as such construction provides for the application, of power centrally to the rear axle in contradistinction to applying the power to the ends of the axle.

It is thought that the operation and'advantages of my improvements will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings.

too

I have illustrated another embodiment of I my invention in Figs. 8 and 9, representing a double car adapted for carrying two persons on a single four-wheeled structure. Two longitudinal frames 59 60 are arranged side by side and parallel to each other, each frame consisting of upper and lower bars, a head, and

Said frames have their steeringheads fastened or clamped to the front arch and their rear ends unitedto the rear-axle sleeve or tube and braced by the inclined struts 61, which are attached to the seat-posts and the rear-axle sleeve. The rear-axle sleeve is made in sections united by two couplings to accommodate the rear sprocket-s of the propelling mechanism, the pedals of which are adjacent to the seat-posts to be easily reached by thev feet of the riders who occupy the saddles on the seat-posts of the parallel frames. The heads of the two frames are joined by the transverse brace-rod 62, which is suitably fastened to the heads, and the seat-posts are also braced at or near the upper ends by the cross-rod 63, which is attached in a suitable way to the seat-posts, whereby the longitudinal frames are held in their parallel relation and the machine is prevented from sagging in the center. The cross-braces 62 63 form a part of the overtruss for the machine-frame to make it rigid and strong. The braces 61 also form a part of the overtruss for the frame.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings I have shown by dotted lines at 64 65 an undertruss for the machine-frame in which the inclined rods are fastened to the end portions of the axle-tube and are joined by a Vertical king-post or rod 66, attached to the axle-coupling.

Having thus fully described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a railway-velocipede, a framework consisting of axle tubes or sleeves arranged parallel to each other at the front and rear of the machine and connected together by longitudinal bars or reaches, said tubes or sleeves forming an integral pa rt of said frame, combined with axles fitted in said tubes or sleeves and removable therefrom at will, substantially as described.

2. In a railway-velocip'ede, a framework comprising axle tubes or sleeves arranged at the front and rear of the machine and held in parallel relation to each otherby longitudinal bars or reaches and by suitable braces, combined with ball-bearings fitted in said sleeves or tubes and axles passing through the sleeves and operatively engaging with the ball-bearings to be removable therefrom at will, substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. In a railway-velocipede, a framework consisting of axle tubes or sleeves arranged parallel to each other, fittings united to said tubes or sleeves and longitudinal reaches united to the fittings, combined with ballbearings mounted within the axle tubes or sleeves, and axles supported by the ball-bearings within the sleeves and removable therefrom, substantially as and for the purposes described.

4. The framework having as an inseparable part thereof the front and rear axle tubes or sleeves, combined with axles fitted in said tubes, and side braces connecting the tubes of said axles to maintain the same in parallel relation, substantially as and for the purposes described.

5. The combination with a framework having an arch for the front axle, of the front sleeve or tube having rigid fittings for the attachment of the arch, a rear-axle tube or sleeve also provided with fittings for the attachment of braces and the framework, axles fitted in said front and rear tubes or sleeves, and side braces attached to the fittings on the rearaxle tube or sleeve and pivotally attached to the fittings on the front-axle tube or sleeve, to which fittings the front arch is also connected, as and for the purposes described.

6. An axle tube or sleeve constructed of alined sections or members joined by a coupling or casing which forms a part of said divided tube or sleeve, combined with an axle fitted in said tube or sleeve, and a driving mechanism one member of which is attached to said axle within the coupling or casing, substantially as and for the purposes described.

7. An axle tube or sleeve divided vertically at or about its middle and having its members or sections joined together byacoupling or casing which is rigidly united to the members and forms a part of said tube or sleeve, combined with a framework attached to said tube or sleeve, an axle-fitted in said tube or sleeve, and apropelling mechanism, one member of which is attached to the axle within the coupling or casing, substantially as and for the purposes described.

8. A divided axle tube or sleeve having its alined sections or members united by a coupling or casing, fittings united to the ends of the sections or members of said tube, ballbearings connected to the sleeve or tube, a framework attached to said fittings, and a propelling mechanism, substantially as and for the purposes described.

9. A divided axle tube or sleeve having its members joined together by an alined coupling or casing and provided at its ends with rigid fittings, combined with end bearings fitted to said tube or sleeve, a central hearing within the coupling or casing, an axle which passes through said bearings and the tube or sleeve, a framework attached to the fittings, and a propelling mechanism, substantially as and for the purposes described.

10. An axle tube or sleeve having a central casing, end and middle bearings mounted within said tube or sleeve, and an axle fitted to said bearings, and in the sleeve or tube, combined with a framework, and a suitable propelling mechanism, substantially as and for the purposes described.

11. The combination of an axle tube or sleeve having a central casing, bearings at the ends of said tube, an axle, a propelling mechanism one member of which is clamped to the axle within said casing, a central bearing fitted to the sleeve or tube and confined in place by said propelling-mechanism member on the axle, and a framework, substantially as and for the purposes described.

12. The combination with a framework, of

a rear-axle sleeve or tube divided centrally and united together by an alined coupling or said sleeve or tube for the attachment of the framework and braces, the bearings at the respective ends of said tube or sleeve, the middle bearing partly attached to the end of one member of said divided tube, the axle fitted in said end and middle bearings and in the tube or sleeve, and a propelling-gear having one of its members clamped to the axle within the middle bearing to hold thesame in position, substantially as described.

13. The rear-axle sleeve or tube having the middle casing and end fittings, combined with a framework having a seat-post, the divergent braces attached to said seat-post and to the end fittings, and a central brace attached to the axle-casing and to the seat-post, substantially as and forl'he purposes described.

14. The parallel sleeves or tubes. for the front and rear axles, the fittings rigidly united to the tubes or sleeves, a yoke, a head, a seatyoke with the front tube or sleeve, and the divergent rear inclinedbraces attached to the seat-post and to fittings on the rear sleeve or tube, combined with axles fitted in said tubes or sleeves, and a propelling mechanism, substantially as and for the purposes described.

15. In a railway-quadricycle, the combination with a front arch, of a front-axle sleeve supported in said arch, a divided rear-axle sleeve, and double frames joined to said axlesleeves and constructed to carry the equipment for the accommodation of more than one rider, as and for the purposes described.

16. In a railway-quadricycle, the combination of parallel frames having their heads and seat -posts united to front and rear axle sleeves, and cross-braces united to the pairs of heads and seat-posts to overcome the tendency of the machine to sag in the center, as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I affixmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES N. TEETOR.

Witnesses:'

WM. N. PORTER, HENRY O. TEETOR. 

